2019 Geely Emgrand GL 1.8+6GMT Review

In recent years, the compact sedan market in Malaysia has become increasingly competitive, with consumers demanding more in terms of space, features, and value for money. The 2019 Geely Emgrand GL 1.8L+6MT is a model targeted at this specific market segment. The core selling points of this car are clear: a class-leading wheelbase that offers spacious interiors, an ultra-large 680L trunk, and entry-level pricing paired with practical features. Many people are curious whether it can meet the multi-scenario needs of family users. The purpose of this test drive is to evaluate its actual performance in daily commuting and family travel, and to see if these on-paper advantages can translate into a real driving experience.

From a distance, the overall style of the 2019 Emgrand GL leans towards understated elegance, without overly exaggerated designs. The front features Geely's signature ripple-pattern grille, paired with sharp headlights on either side, offering decent recognizability when illuminated. The side profile exhibits smooth lines, with a waistline extending from the front to the rear, preventing a dull appearance. The 16-inch multispoke wheels have a conventional design that aligns with the positioning of a family car. At the rear, the taillight assembly adopts a horizontal design, connected by a chrome trim at the edge of the trunk, which visually broadens the car's appearance, while the black trim on the lower rear bumper adds a slight sporty touch. In terms of lighting, the headlights come standard with halogen bulbs, which are average in brightness but sufficient for daily use. The taillights, however, use LED technology, providing more visibility when lit at night.

Once inside the car, the overall interior layout is simple and straightforward, with the center console angled slightly towards the driver, making it more convenient to operate. In terms of materials, the upper section of the dashboard is wrapped in soft-touch plastic, offering a decent tactile feel, while the inner door panels combine fabric and hard plastic. Although it doesn't feel luxurious, it is considered standard in this price range. The central control screen measures 8 inches in size and supports Bluetooth, CarPlay, and CarLife connectivity functions. The interface operates smoothly enough to handle everyday tasks such as navigation and playing music with ease. The seats are upholstered in fabric and are adequately padded. The front seats offer manual adjustments, with decent support for the backrest and cushion, ensuring comfort even during long drives. In terms of features, this model is equipped with keyless entry, push-button start, automatic air conditioning, and rear air vents—all very practical features for family use. The rear air vents, in particular, enhance comfort for rear-seat passengers.

Space is one of the standout features of the Emgrand GL. The vehicle dimensions measure 4725mm×1802mm×1478mm, with a wheelbase of 2700mm, placing it among the top in the compact sedan segment. After adjusting the front seat to a comfortable position, a passenger with a height of 175cm still has about a fist-width of headroom. The rear seating area feels even more spacious, providing over two fist-widths of legroom and a fist-width of headroom for passengers of the same height. Even with three adults seated in the rear, the cabin doesn’t feel cramped. In terms of storage, the front row features two cup holders, a central armrest compartment, and door storage pockets, which are sufficient for holding phones, water bottles, and other small items. The trunk offers a capacity of 680L, with a relatively wide opening that can easily accommodate two 28-inch suitcases along with additional miscellaneous items. The rear seats also support a split-folding function, making it possible to transport larger items when needed.

Powertrain-wise, this car is equipped with a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine, delivering a maximum output of 133PS and a maximum torque of 170N·m, paired with a 6-speed manual transmission. In actual driving, the power output during the starting phase is relatively smooth, and the clutch pedal's engagement point is clear, making it easy for new drivers to adapt quickly. When shifting to second gear, the power starts to release noticeably, and during acceleration or overtaking, as long as you press the accelerator pedal deeply and the engine speed rises above 4000 rpm, you can feel decent thrust. The 6-speed manual transmission has a moderate shift travel and a clear gear positioning, though the tactile feedback while engaging the gears is not very strong. There is only one standard driving mode with no options for a sport or economy mode, making the tuning more oriented towards family use, suitable for smooth driving.

In terms of handling, the steering wheel has moderate weight and reasonably precise directionality, providing the driver with good confidence during daily lane changes or cornering. The suspension system uses a front MacPherson independent suspension and a rear torsion beam non-independent suspension, a common combination in compact family cars. When dealing with minor bumps on city roads, the suspension filters out most of the vibrations, ensuring passengers inside the car don't feel too jolted; however, when encountering speed bumps or larger potholes, the rear suspension's bouncing becomes more noticeable, which may slightly impact the comfort of rear passengers. When cornering, the body roll is well-controlled within a reasonable range, not giving a floating feeling, and overall performance is decent, meeting the expectations for a family car.

As for fuel efficiency, this test drive was primarily conducted on city roads, with occasional highway stretches. The combined fuel consumption was around 7.2L/100km, which is not far off from the official figure of 6.9L/100km. For a car with a 1.8L naturally aspirated engine, this fuel efficiency is quite reasonable. Regarding braking, the brake pedal feel is linear, with moderate initial braking force and sufficient braking power in the later stages. During emergency braking, the vehicle maintains stability, and the braking distance is within the normal range for vehicles in its class.

When it comes to driving comfort, noise control performance is average. At speeds below 60km/h, the cabin remains fairly quiet, with only slight engine noise; however, when speeds exceed 80km/h, wind noise and tire noise become significantly louder, especially the tire noise, which has a notable impact on cabin tranquility. The seat comfort is commendable, with fabric seats offering good breathability, ensuring that prolonged sitting does not feel stuffy. The rear seats have a comfortable backrest angle and also come with a headrest for the middle seat, considering the comfort of the middle passenger.

In summary, the 2019 Geely Emgrand GL 1.8L+6MT boasts clear core advantages: spacious interior, practical features, and decent fuel efficiency. Compared to other popular models in the same segment like the Toyota Vios and Honda City, it has a longer wheelbase, offering more interior space and a larger trunk capacity. It also comes with practical features such as rear air vents and keyless entry that its competitors lack, making it a higher value-for-money option. However, there is room for improvement in interior materials and noise control, and its engine's power reserve is not as strong as competitors equipped with turbocharged engines.

Overall, this car offers a balanced performance, making it suitable for families that value space and practicality, especially those who often need to travel with family members and prioritize trunk capacity. It has low fuel consumption for daily commuting and low maintenance costs; meanwhile, for family trips, the spacious rear seats and large trunk capacity can meet the demand. For budget-conscious buyers seeking high value for money, this is a worthwhile choice.

Overall, the 2019 Geely Emgrand GL 1.8L+6MT is a practical family sedan. Although there are some minor shortcomings in the details, the spacious interior and practical configurations are sufficient to outweigh these small flaws, making it a reliable choice for family users.